Geranium plant named ‘Noortlilac’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Geranium cinereum , ‘Noortlilac’, that is characterized by its relatively large flowers that are dark lilac in color with conspicuous dark purple colored veins that are consistent in color throughout the plant and its better resistance to soil fungi relative to other  Geranium cinereum  cultivars.

Botanical classification: Geranium cinereum.

Cultivar designation: ‘Noortlilac’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant, botanically known as Geranium cinereum. ‘Noortlilac’ and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Noortlilac’.

‘Noortlilac’ was derived from a breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Warmond, The Netherlands. The objectives of the breeding program were to develop new cultivars of Geranium cinereum in a range of flower colors that commence bloom early in the season and exhibit disease resistance, compact plant habits and rain resistance.

‘Noortlilac’ arose from a cross made in summer of 2010 between an unnamed and unpatented proprietary seedling of Geranium cinereum from the Inventor's breeding program as the female parent and Geranium cinereum ‘Laurence Flatman’ (not patented) as the male parent. The Inventor selected ‘Noortlilac’ as a single unique plant amongst the seedlings that resulted from the above cross in May of 2012.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by in vitro propagation by the Inventor in Otrebusy, Poland in April of 2014. Asexual propagation by in vitro propagation and root cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of ‘Noortlilac’. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Noortlilac’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium.

-   -   1. ‘Noortlilac’ exhibits relatively large flowers that are dark         lilac in color with conspicuous dark purple colored veins.     -   2. ‘Noortlilac’ exhibits greater resistance to soil fungi         relative to other Geranium cinereum cultivars.     -   3. ‘Noortlilac’ exhibits flowers that are consistent in color         throughout the plant.         The female parent of ‘Noortlilac’ differs from ‘Noortlilac’ in         having flowers that are smaller in size with inconspicuous         flower petal veins and variability in flower coloration. The         male parent of ‘Noortlilac’, ‘Laurence Flatman’, differs from         ‘Noortlilac’ in having flowers that are smaller in size, lighter         in color, and show variability in flower coloration.         ‘Noortlilac’ can also be compared to the Geranium cinereum         cultivar, ‘Ballerina’ (not patented). ‘Ballerina’ is similar to         ‘Noortlilac’ in overall plant shape. ‘Ballerina’ differs from         ‘Noortlilac’ in having flowers that are smaller in size and         lighter in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Geranium. The photographs were taken of a one year-old plant of ‘Noortlilac’ as field grown in Warmond, The Netherlands and place in a container for the photographs.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides an overall view of a plant of ‘Noortlilac’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘Noortlilac’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Noortlilac’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digital photography techniques available and the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Geranium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of one year-old plants of the new cultivar as field grown in Warmond, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General characteristics:     -   -   Blooming period.—April into June in The Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Low growing, spreading, and flattened (not             mounded).         -   Height and spread.—An average of 15 cm in height and 25 cm             in spread as a one year-old plant grown in a field.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 5.         -   Diseases.—Observed to have some resistance to soil fungi             caused by Botrytis cinerea and Pythium spp.).         -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine, primarily N167B in             color.         -   Root development.—An average of 20 weeks to fully develop             from a rooted cutting in a 9-cm container.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate, an average of 8 cm per month in             spring.         -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation (preferred) and root             cuttings. -   Stem description:     -   -   Stem size.—Average of 10.6 cm in length and 2.5 mm in width.         -   Stem shape.—Round.         -   Stem color.—144B with upper side (sun exposed) slightly             tinged with 174A.         -   Stem surface.—Slightly glossy with stems moderately covered             with very short soft adpressed hairs; average of 0.3 mm in             length and too small to measure color.         -   Stem strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Internode length.—Average of 5.6 cm.         -   Branching.—Freely branched with an average of 12 lateral             branches. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Reniform (in outline), palmately deeply cleft to             parted with an average of five lobes.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Hastate (free to slightly overlapping).         -   Leaf apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Leaf venation.—Palmate, color upper surface 143B, color             lower surface 144A.         -   Leaf margins.—Palmately deeply cleft to parted into an             average of five lobes, lobes are three to five lobed each             with an acute apex.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces slightly glossy and densely             covered with short and soft adpressed hairs; average of 0.5             mm in length and too small to measure color.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 2.7 cm in length and 3 cm in width.         -   Leaf color.—Upper surface young; N137A, lower surface young;             147B, upper surface mature; N137A with a small spot 187A in             center, lower surface mature; color between 138A and 147B.         -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 6 leaves per lateral branch.         -   Petioles.—Average of 7 cm in length and 1.5 mm in diameter,             color 144A and occasionally tinged with 174A towards the             base, surface puberulent.         -   Stipules.—2 leafy stipules are present at the base of the             leaves, narrowly deltoid in shape, narrow acuminate apex,             truncate base, average of 1 cm in length and 4 mm in width,             color of both surfaces 157B to 157C with apex 145B, both             surfaces puberulent. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Single, rotate flowers, arranged in             pairs at axillary nodes.         -   Lastingness of flowers.—About 7 days on the plant, sepals             persistent.         -   Flower size.—Average of 1.3 cm in height and 4.1 cm in             diameter.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower number.—Average of 10 flowers and buds per lateral             stem and 120 per plant.         -   Flower aspect.—Upright to outward.         -   Flower opening.—About 10% open at any stage during             flowering.         -   Flower buds.—Elliptic to ovate in shape, average of 1 cm in             length and 5 mm in diameter, 137B in color and striped with             138C to 138D, surface densely covered with short soft             adpressed hairs; 1 mm in length and NN155C to NN155D in             color.         -   Corolla features.—Petals are unfused and arranged in a             rotate form, slightly cupped.         -   Petal number.—5.         -   Petal shape.—Obcordate.         -   Petal color.—Opening and fully open upper surface; 75A with             center and apex N78A, base N79C, primary veins N186A,             secondary veins N79B to N79C, opening and fully open lower             surface; N78A, base 76D, primary veins N186A, secondary             veins 60A to 60B, non-fading.         -   Petal surface.—Both sides glabrous with upper side velvety.         -   Petal margins.—Entire.         -   Petal apex.—Retuse to emarginate.         -   Petal size.—Average of 2.1 cm in length and 1.9 cm in width.         -   Calyx.—Rotate and cupped, 6 mm in length and 2 cm in             diameter.         -   Sepals.—5, ovate in shape with tips reflexed, average of 1.1             cm length and 4.5 mm in width, entire margin, mucronate             apex, cuneate base, both surfaces are matte, color young             upper surface; 143A, apex 141B, color young lower surface;             137B, striped 138C to 138D, mature upper surface; 143A, apex             141B, mature lower surface; 137B, striped 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Round in shape, average of 7.6 cm in length and 2             mm in diameter, strong, held at a 20° angle, color 144A with             upper surface is strongly tinged 174B to 174C, surface             puberulent.         -   Pedicels.—Round in shape, average of 2.2 cm in length and 1             mm in diameter, strong, one flower held straight to peduncle             (varying between 0° and 30°), second flower in an average             angle of 50° to lateral branch, color 144B, surface             puberulent. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, average of 6 mm in length, 5 stigmas             are decurrent (reflexed) and 187B in color, style is an             average of 3 mm in length and 144B in color, ovary is 143A             in color.         -   Androecium.—10 stamens, anthers are dorsifixed, oblong in             shape, held at a 90° angle on top of filament, 2 mm in             length, and 203B to 203C in color, filaments are 6 mm in             length and N186C in color, pollen is low in quantity and 11A             in color.         -   Fruit/seeds.—None detected. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Noortlilac’ as herein illustrated and described. 